I never stop at the red light in New Cumberland that I don’t glance to my left to see the decorated windows at the former Graham’s Store. And,I am never disappointed. It might be be rainy and gloomy outside, but inside the windows Spring is blooming. Four times a year, each season, Leslie Fields and Diane Wells decorate the windows of the vacant building. For while the insides may be empty, the spirit of volunteerism make the windows bloom.

I always had a special interest in this. As a child we had an old train set complete with villages and plaster of paris human figures whose outfits ranged from World War I soldiers to World War II. There were even a few Indians and Civil War figures. When I asked I was told that my Grandma Barton (who lived in the house behind Turley’s Funeral Home, was a widow who had married a man who worked on the train. I remember as Pap Joe and at Christmas during World War II, he would decorate the windows of Grahams with the trains at the village people and soldiers. I never saw it, but I imagine how neat it must have been.

Maybe that why I am so impressed with the two ladies who take the time and put so much effort into decorating those same windows at Grahams.

According to Leslie, she and Diane began decorating the windows at Riverfest Time of 2017.
“The Riverfest committee was getting ready to decorate the down town area and the light poles for Riverfest,” said Leslie. “Diane and I were talking about how the corner looked a little bare since there was nothing in the Graham building anymore. We decided we would contact the Staley family (owners at the time) and see if they would allow us to place some fall decorations and advertisements for Riverfest in the store windows. They agreed and we decorated it for fall. “

After Thanksgiving, talk and planning in town turned to the New Cumberland Christmas Parade plans and Diane and Leslie decided to decorate using a Winter theme that could be used for longer than Christmas.
“We did this mainly because neither one of us had the time to decorate the windows just for Christmas and then have to back down so soon after the holiday to remove everything.” The two received lots of positive feedback so they made the decision to decorate four times a year as the season changed, so spring, summer, fall and winter developed.

If you’re like me you often wonder, “Where do they come up with ideas for the windows?”
“Ideas come from everywhere. Pinterest, things seen in our travels, magazines and just items often will develop into ideas to use.” said Diane. ” The materials we have on hand, time to create items, and costs also play a big part in coming up with ideas and plans.”

“In the beginning the two worked together on all four walls, but found it more efficient to each take two windows and work on them individually. We bounce ideas off each other and generally know
what the other person is doing. We share resources to help each other out. We get together to decorate on the same day and complete the ideas..” said Leslie.

Back in 2017 when the two started decorating, the 5th window in the back area was damaged, making it unsafe to do anything with the window. It’s since been replaced, but there is only open space behind making it more difficult to stage. Leslie said they hang stuff there and on occasion have placed items with screen dividers behind, but it is not really conducive to using consistently.

Since the items used in the windows are pretty unique, it poses the question of where do they find those doors and branches, even old school desks?
“We gather, make, or buy materials we use for decorating. Our husbands, Ed and Bill, are often a part of the making and construction process. They are definitely part of the hauling in an out process. Sometimes people will have items they will ask if we would like to use and have,’ said Leslie who noted that the first year the New Cumberland Festival and Parade committee gave us a small amount of funding to
help get us started. Most of the materials are just things we have or make. We are allowed to store items in the building and we reuse many things in different ways over time.

A lot of work, a bunch of talent and creativity and the strong desire to improve the looks of New Cumberland downtown, Diane and Leslie deserve the thanks and recognition for making their hometown’s landmark building a sight to behold at every season.